Sore nipples at 4 months? Any ideas?

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

DD is 19 weeks old and ebf. The last few days my nipples have been very sore during feeding - like someone is sticking pins in them. One is sorer than the other.

Its a bit of a shock as thought I had nipples of steel, lol. Never had any pain with ds and none with dd until now.

I have checked latch (fine), she has been over her 17 week growth spurt for a few days (back to every 2 hourish in day then twice in night) and i cant see any cracks or red patches etc. Dont think its thrush.

Any ideas?
Thanks
Axx

Sorry to say it but why don't you think it's thrush? Sounds like it could be to me

Thanks Anchovies. I always associated thrush with red nipples, shiny patches, itching, deep breast pain - those sorts of symptoms? DD doesnt appear to have anything either in her mouth...can the only symtpom be sore nipples?

Its just the nipples that are painful and tender, feeling almost a bit bruised when shes not feeding.

thrush can definitely start off like that.

is she tugging on your nipples or does her latch feel stronger? my 24 week old DS has become a lot more "aggressive" in his feeding in the last couple of weeks, making me pretty sore.

Thanks. Will keep an eye on it for thrush but perhaps it is the fact she is fussing a bit at the moment - seems to latch on and off a lot, get a bit annoyed and very windy. She also likes to stop and grin at me (or anyone else close by!) every now and again so could be that. Her suck is very strong but always has been - always gulped it down in 5 - 10 minutes

xxxx

Hi! I'm wondering if you have seen this: www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

I had prickly pain, and thought it was thrush, but it turned out to be blanching. It happened when dd was about 5 months and just starting to teeth and therefore latching in a slightly different way.

This is also helpful: www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/sorenipples-older.html

I get sore nipples when I ovulate, just a thought?

Thanks for the links - will have a read. Getting worse not better though - really gritting my teeth but seems to get a bit better as feed progresses.

Woke up this morning and my breasts felt quite hot and tender - though im sure its not mastitis as its all over and no red patches or pain (have had mastitis 4 times before over 2 babies) and I dont feel ill.

They also seem to be very swollen - my bras arent fitting.

DD fed every hour last night but there is plenty of milk. On closer inspection this morning a tooth is breaking through her bottom gum. Im sure I read something about teething making them dribble lots or altering the ph or something and this making mums sore.

Ovulating may well be an idea Pannacotta - going to see if I have any ov sticks left over!

Thanks for all your help
xxxx